Fireworks



Aug. 27, 1929- J. DE -BLASIO FIREWORKS Filed Dec. 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuento'c Jfi/IZES 015 EL 66/0 Aug. 27, 1929.

J. DE BLASIO FIREWORKS Filed Dec. 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet FPWM mm? 05 5205/0 Wnw EssEs Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNHTE wearer FFifiE.

JAMES DE BLASIO, OF DUNBAR, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIREWORKS.

Application filed December 28, 1927. Serial No. 243,198.

This invention relates to the art of pyrotechnics, and more particularly to a novel piece of fireworks of the type known as a Flash Mandarin and a method of making the same.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an explosive article of the type set forth which is simple in construction and requires less labor and material to produce, While at the same time resulting in a far more attractive and effective display from the standpoint of visibility and audibility than any similar construction heretofore used.

A further object of the invention is to pro.- vide a novel method and article of the character set forth involving structural features and characteristics which may be readily embodied into various sizes and forms to pro- 7 duce novel successive flash efiec'ts such, for

example, as chain or strings and the like.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of. the. invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical sectional view illustrating the preferred form of the explosive unit of invention before completion.

Figure 2 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating the completed unit construction.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33. of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevation partly in section of a completed modified form of unit of the invention.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views illustrating further embodiments of the invention.

Figure 8 is a detail view illustrating a usual manner of connecting the devices in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive to form a string or chain. I

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying the present invention into effect it is proposed to provide a cartridge or cracker designated generally as A and which may be formed in a novel way by simply using paper, paste and twine. That is to say, it is proposed to form the cartridge A by rolling a relatively thin sheet 1 of paper constituting an outside wrapper together with a strip of heavy or thick paper 2 near one end of the thin paper sheet so that when the two kinds of paper are rolled together the thick paper 2 will be coiled about in such a way as to form the side walls of the explosive charge receiving chamber of the cartridge. The thin paper at one end of the cylinder formed by the rolling referred to is twisted as indicated at 3 in Figure 1 to thereby close the bottom of the charge receiving chamber of the cartridge so that the explosive material 4 can be placed in the cylinder and prevented from dropping out.

The explosive material 4 is adapted to receive a fuse 5 which is dropped into the tubular sheath or barrel of the unit having the explosive material at the bottom thereof, from the upper open end of the, tubular portion T, so that a portion of the fuse projects beyond the powder and permits of the thin paper 1 being twisted as indicated at 6 in Fig. 2 to hold the fuse in place and also completely close the charge receiving chamber. After the cartridge has been thus formed by twisting the ends of the paper at the top and bottom of the explosive charge, the twisted ends are tied by cord or twine as indicated at 3? and 6 thus forming the completion of the cracker part of the device.

The tubular part or sheath T of the device is adapted to receive a fuse adapted to be ignited from an adjacent unit, the said fuse extending through the tubular part T and down into contact with the fuse 5 tocause the same to be ignited. In other words, the devicev shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is not intended primarily to be fired as an individual cracker but as a part of a chain or string to give a succession of explosions and flashes which may be timed according to the length of the fuse between each cartridge A. It will therefore be apparent that the present construction consists primarily in the novel manner or method of forming the cartridge or cracker portion of the device together with the tubular sheath T which provides a protecting housing or casing for the fuse be tween the different cartridges to not only protect the fuses in handling but also act as a safe-guard against any loose powder from the cartridges or fuses falling out and subjecting the persons firing the devices or other fireworks from premature ignition and explosion.

Figure 4 of the drawings illustrates a construction similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that the tubular fuse sheath portion T is made in the form of a separate cylinder, that is, inde pendently of the paper 1 whichforms the cartridge or cracker A, but is united with the twisted end of the cartridge by having its skirt portion 7 surrounded and tied by the cord 8 thereby to provide in effect the same type of construction that exists in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. The tubular fuse sheath T is preferably made in this instance of brown paper or paper heavier than the paper 1 which is used in forming the outer part of the cartridge A, the latter being made in the manner set forth in Figs. 1 and 2. In other words this form is the same as Figs. 1 and 2 except that a smaller sheet of thin outside wrapper of thin paper is used, and the separate fuse sheath is connected to the outside wrapper by the cord 8.

Figure 5 of the drawings illustrates, a cartridge A whose structural features and characteristics are the same as the cartridge A of Fig. 4: so far as the making of the walls there of is concerned from thick and thin paper 1 and 2. However, in this instance the cartridge is completely formed as a unit by twisting the ends of the thin paper at opposite sides of the thick paper strip and holding the twisted part against untwisting by first applying paste to both twisted ends. The twisted and pasted ends are then additionally secured by tying with cord and the end of the cartridge having the fuse therein has the separate tubular fuse sheath T applied thereto, the same being held by means of the cord or twine 9 which embraces the fuse end of the cartridge.

Figure 6 of the drawings shows a cartridge A formed in accordance with the structural features of the Figs. 1, 2 and 3, viz. a thin and thick walled chamber, but in this instance the complete cartridge unit is formed by having the twisted ends pasted together and tied by cord 10, and then the whole cracker as a unit is encased or embodied in an extra fuse tube T of thin paper which is twisted in the end adjacent the cartridge as indicated at 11 and applied with paste to prevent the cartridge from falling out. The upper part of the tubular wrapper or cylinder T is then adapted to receive the fuse from an adjoining cartridge or cracker and to be tied in the same manner as heretofore indicated.

Figure 7 of the drawings illustrates a further embodiment of the invention which consists ofa tubular outside cylinder or sheath T comprising several convolutions of thin paper twisted at one end as indicated at 12 and held in its twisted position by paste or glue to maintain the one end of the tube closed to permit of placing the explosive charge A Figure 8 of the drawings illustrates the form of the invention in which it is usually used. As will be observed from this figure, the present novel unit in any'of its various forms and uses, the cartridge or cracker A and its tubular portion or hollow cylinder T is tied at its upper end as indicated at 13 to a fuse sheath is which connects adjacent units, the fuse in the sheath 14: extending downwardly into the tubular part or cylinder for the purpose of igniting the fuse 5 for example of the cartridge or cracker A.

With reference to the explosive material 4 forming the explosive charge of the cracker several different compounds meeting the 111- terstate Commerce Commissions specifications may be used. For example, Compound No. 1 may consist of barium nitrate, dark aluminum powder, black needle antimony, and potassium chlorate; Compound No. 2 may consist of potassium chlorate, black needle antimony and powdered sulphur and Compound No. 3 may consist of dark powdered aluminum, potassium chlorate and sulphur (powdered).

The forms or types of explosive mixtures above described are used with a view to producing a sharp and flash effect to provide what I have designated as a Flash Mandarin.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention aims to provide a firecracker which is adapted to be used as a part of a chain or string, and which consists of the cracker proper being made by the use of thick and thin paper, the thick paper being in the form of a strip while the thin paper is more or less in the form 'of'a rolled sheet to permit the ends of the thin paper projecting beyond the strip tube twisted and tied or otherwise made secure to confine the explosive charge in such a way that the explosion and flash will be pronounced and effective. The construction shown permits of making the units rapidly and in an effective manner as well as inexpensive through the use of paste and twineeombined and arranged in the manner shown.

WVithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention'will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the .art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1 1. A fire cracker of the class described comprising a cartridge portion including a tubular wrapper forming a sheath of thin paper and a strip of relatively thick paper coiled together, the ends. of the thin paper being twisted opposite the edges of the thick paper to form a chamber for receiving the explosive material, and a fuse projecting through one of the twisted ends of the thin paper to ignite the explosive charge.

2. A fire cracker of the class described comprising a cartridge consisting of a sheath including thick and thin paper, the former being in the form of a strip coiled within the thin paper to provide a powder receiving chamber, a fuse for igniting the powder, and the ends of the thin paper at opposite edges of the thick paper being twisted together to hold the fuse and powder in place.

3. A fire cracker of the class described comprising a cartridge consisting of a sheath including thick and thin paper, the former being in the form of a strip coiled within the thin paper to provide a powder receiving chamber, a fuse for igniting the powder, and the ends of the thin paper at opposite edges of the thick paper being twisted together and tied with twine.

4:. A fireworks piece including a plurality of explosive units, each unit comprising a tubular sheath, a cartridge formed within one end of the sheath, and said sheath being twisted and tied at opposite sides of the cartridge, a fuse for the cartridge, a connecting fuse for the fuses of adjacent units, said fuses being encased in a sheath and secured in the tubular sheath of each unit.

5. A method of making fireworks which consists in rolling a sheet of thin paper and a strip of thick paper together to provide a reinforced tubular jacket, twisting one end of the thin paper at one side of the thick paper to partially form a powder receiving chamber, filling the cartridge chamber with powder and inserting a fuse, and then twisting the thin paper about the fuse of the cartridge and securing the twisted portion against untwist ing.

6. A method of making fireworks which consists in rolling a piece of thin paper and a strip of thick paper together to provide a reinforced tubular jacket, twisting one end of the thin paper at one side of the thick paper to partially form a powder receiving chamber, then filling the cartridge chamber with powder and inserting a fuse, twisting the thin paper about the fuse of the cartridge and securing the twisted portion against untwisting, next inserting a connecting fuse in the end of the thin paper in position to ignite the first mentioned fuse, and finally securing the connecting fuse in the tubular portion of the thin paper.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JAMES DE BLASIO. 

